Tile panel alignment



Aug. 23,- 1932. N. H. cr-:Dr-:RQUls-r TILE PANEL AL'IGNMENT Filed Dec. l, 1931 mvENToR /V//S C i ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATNT FFICE! z NILS H. .GEDERQUIIIS'JJ, 0F ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA TILE .PANEL ALIGNMBNT Y.Application ala December 1Q' 1931.74' seriai'no. "$78,832.

pointed with cementitious material, such as Y magnesite cement, for the purpose of simulating tile which is usually set in such cement or mortar applied directly to the surface of the structure which is to be tiled.

Magnesite cement expands on setting. The

result is that buckling outwardly of the panel occurs due to the combined layer of tile and pointing cement expanding in relation to the backing.

The present invention has for its primary object the provision of a panel unit ofy the character described having adjustable means to stretch the backing along the direction of buckling and thereby straighten and maintain straight the panel.

These objects, together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments-are attained by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig 1 is a rear elevation of an assembly of units, the end units being shown fragmenta- Yrily; Fig. 2 is a plane view partly in section on an enlarged scale of adjacent units with the stretcher adjuster on one unit; Fig. 3 is a section as seen on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4c is a rear` elevation partly in-section showing a fragment of a unit and stretcher with the adjuster shown partly in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the base or backing of the panel is indicated generally by 5. This base is preferably a wooden slab which may be built up of thin strips in successive layers which are glued together to form a neutralized backing. This specific structure is not an essential of the invention, it merely being essential that the backing slab be of material which is bendable. To the front of the slab 5 tiles 6 of biscuit form are secured, preferablyby means of an elastic cement such as an asphaltum compound. The tiles arey then pointed with cement 7 which is preferably Inagnesite cement. In the constructionof such a panel, the "last operation in layingthe tile is `the pointing, and before pointing the slab back is substantially flat. After pointing,

"the cement sets andfexpands, causing` the layerV of tile to expand and. resulting fin bucklingofthe back. A stretcher has been V provided tol straighten the panel and `indicated by 8. l

This stretcher 8 is loosely secured to the slab 5by screws `9. The stretcher consists, as shown, of two sections 8a and Sbhaving 65 opposing end faces with a space therebetween. The section 8b has an inset beveled bea-ring vface 8c 'whose high .side is at Athe outer margin of thesection. The section 8a 'is provided with'a shank socket 8d to loosely 70 receive thev shank of a bolt. As shown herein, the beveled bearing face is recessed. A metal plate 10 is placed over the end of the section 8b and a corresponding plate 11 is placed over the end of the section 8a. These 75 plates have registering bores for the shank of a bolt 12.' The bolt 12 has its head 13, which is substantially flat, disposed in the recess between the plate 1() and the bearing face8c. A nut 14C is threaded on the shank 80 of the bolt 12 and bears on the outer side of thejplate 11. The boltfand nut constitute a turnbu'ckle. By screwing the nut 14 toward the far end, the head 13 is causedto bear against the high side of the beveled bearing face 8c and the nut bears againstthe plate 11 which constitutes a bearing face on the section 8a. Compression is exerted on the outer side of the stretcher strip and the'latter is expanded to accommodate the back to the layer of tile and cement and thereby straighten the unit. It is obvious that adjustment may beinitially made and if buckling occurs after initial'adjustment, further adjustment maybe made by merely turning the nut 14.

'i Stretcher strips may be disposed in Vpositionranging alongrpthe back of the unit in anyl of the positions necessary to overcome buckling. In the structure disclosed herein, the unit is elongated with the vstretcher strip the unit is a platform having sleepers 16 to which are attached U-shaped straps 17 extending through slots in the backing so that 5 wedges 18 may be placed in thestraps and pressure exerted to securely fasten the .platform to the panel. Since the platform would be straightythe panel is pulled into shape `at its lower edge so that no vstretcher strip is required at the bottom. in the specific "construction. i End units are shown attached to the central unit. These endA units have their end-edges which abut the center unit,of like construyaV tion. Referring to one; there is a vstripV 19 ,whichregisters with the stretcher strip f8 may include a stretcher means. There is also astrip '20, on the'center unitand a corresponding strip 21V on the end unit. The strips 19 and. 8b have downwardly, ranging grooves 2.2"y and 23 vwhich are inclined .toward one another. There is also at recess 24 on the V,front oftthe strips sof that-a lU-shapedfwedge keyf25 may bev inserted anddriven into place.

-25 (This causes the abutting ends of the. units to bedrawn closelytogether and in alignmentV due to the yoke of the wedge'25 being seated in. the "recess 24s.. AY wedge key 26 is; disposedinstripsQO and Y21 in a similar manner. This w'edgelkey construction lforms vno Vpart ofithepresent invention. e .fWhatI claim is: n 'f l f Y 1. A tilepanel slab unit comprising a bendyable base, tile cemented on the front thereof forming aiveneerface,` a slabv stretcher ranging alongan'd secured to the back ofsaid base-,and means in said stretcher to adjustablylengthen the latter. i

, '2.- A tile panelslab unitcomprising a bend- Iable-base,tilercementedon the front thereof formingza veneer'wface, a slab stretcher hav-v ing sections disposed-in seriatim, said stretcher" ranging along, and being secured to the back. of said base,Y and means between said sectionsto adjustably expand the stretcher. 8,-A tile panel slab unit comprisinga bendable.base,tiles cemented.` on the frontthereofforming a ,veneer face, a slabV stretcher having sections arranged in seriatim, said -stretch'- .e'r-ranging along-and being secured to the backof saidfbase, and av turnbuckle device ,between said sections to adjustablyV expand the stretcher.

4.. VA tile panel slab unit kcomprising a bendablebase, Itiles cemented on the front thereof forming aveneer face, a stretcher strip ranging along' and beingsecured to the Vback f said base,V said strip having sections disposed vin seriatim,.a bolt and'nu-t disposed between said sections withthe head ofthe nutbear.- 0ingion the end nof one section, and the nut on the endof thefcontiguous section whereby the 'stretcher may be. adjustably expanded. `-5. yA tilepanel slab unit comprising a bendable. base, tiles cementedV on the front izc'zasse thereof forming a veneerface, a stretcherV strip vranging along and being secured to the back of said base, said-strip having sections in seriatim, a bearing face on one section opposing a bearing face on a contiguous section and being beveled with its high side at the outer edge, a turnbuckle device having its ends bearingagainst the contiguousbearing faces saidturnbuckle device having a substantially Hat head at the end bearing against the beveled face. I! v Y v 6. A tile panel slab unit comprising a f bendablebase, tiles cemented on the front Ythereof formingra veneer face, a stretcher strip ranging along 4and secured to the back -ofsaid baser/said strip .havingV sections in seriatim, a bearing'face on one sect-ionk opposing a bearing. face on a contiguous section and f being .beveledwithvits highv sideV at the outer edge, a shank'socket on the sectionopposing,C the beveled facea bolt having a substantially flat head bearing against' the 'beveledi face with its shank loosely mounted in said socket, and a nut' onsaid shank bearing against the face oppositefto said beveled face. i y

7. A tile panelY slab unit comprising a wooden base, ceramic tiles cemented on the 4front thereof forming agveneer face, pointing Y cement between said tiles, a slab stretcher on the back of said base," and meansiin said .395Y

stretcher to adj ustably lengthen the latter. Y -8..A tilev panel slab. unit comprisingy a wooden base,y ceramic tiles cemented lonthe front thereof forming a veneer face, pointing cement expansible .onf setting disposed be- .100 tween said tiles, a slab stretcher having sections inseriatim, said stretcherA ranging along and beingY secured to the back of lsaid base, and means between Asaidsections to adjustably expand the stretcher. f Y. ,l

9'.l A tile ,panel unit comprising. a wooden base, ceramic tiles` cemented to the front thereof forming al veneer face, pointing cement expansible on setting disposed between said tiles, a slab stretcherY having sections in 'seriatiim said stretcher ranging alongI and Vbeing secured to the back of said base, and a turnbuckle device between said vsections to adjustably expand the stretcher.

' 10. A tile panel slab unit comprising a v115V wooden base, `ceramic tiles cemented on the front thereof forming a veneer face, pointing cementexpansible. on setting disposedbetween said tiles, a stretcher :strip ranging `along and being secured to the back of said 120 base. said strip having'sectionsinV seriatim,

' a bolt and nut disposed between said sections with the head of the boltbearing on the end of one section and the nut on the endof a contiguous section whereby the stretcher may be adjustably expanded.

'11. A tile panel slab unitcoinprising a Wooden base, ceramic. tilesvcem'ented on'the front vthereof forming a veneer'face, pointing lCement expansibley lon setting disposed'be- 13@ tvveen said tiles, a stretcher strip ranging along and being secured to the back of said base, said strip having sections in seriatim, a bearing facel on one section opposing a bearing face on a contiguous section and being beveled with its high side at the outer edge, a turnbuckle device having its ends bearing against the contiguous bearing faces', said turnbuckle device having a substantially flat lfiead at the end bearing against the beveled ace. Y

l2. A tile panel slab unit comprising a Wooden base, ceramic tiles cemented on vthe front thereof forming a veneer face, pointing cement expansible on setting disposed between said tiles, a stretcher strip ranging along and being secured to the back of said base, said strip having sections in seriatim, a bearing face on one section opposing a bearing face on a contiguous section and being beveled With its high side at the outer edge, there being a shank socket in the section opposing the beveled face; a bolt having a substantially Hat head bearing against theV beveled bearing face with its shank loosely mounted in said socket, and a nut on said shank bearing against the other face.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th day oi' November, 1931.

NILS I-I. CEDERQUIST. 

